Chapter 38
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Ghost Valley Lodge Special (5)
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“Alright, game… start!”
As soon as the game began, everyone scattered like arrows from a bow.
Eun Hae-sol and I headed up to the second floor, while the other members stayed on the first floor to search the lodge.
Climbing the stairs at a brisk pace, I called out to Eun Hae-sol, who was walking ahead.
“If you hear a whistle, run right away. Or hide in some corner.”
“Got it.”
According to the PD, a whistle would sound when the ghost appeared.
No one knew how the whistle was made, but just imagining it sent chills down my spine.
“Have you played a lot of hide-and-seek?”
“Just a bit in elementary school.”
So he must’ve had decent relationships back then.
Continuing our chat with Eun Hae-sol, we kept moving.
“Where should we start searching?”
“Yeah, where to first.”
I scanned the hallway, thinking.
‘There are way too many rooms.’
It used to be a lodging facility, so rooms kept appearing nonstop as we walked.
Rough count put it at about fourteen, meaning even splitting two per person, each of us had seven to check.
‘This is brutal.’
Anyway, they said a talisman was hidden somewhere here…
“Let’s just start searching randomly.”
“Sounds good.”
“I’ll take this side. You handle over there.”
As I finished speaking and was about to enter a room, I paused. Then I shouted at the back of Eun Hae-sol’s head as he walked away.
“Let’s meet again alive.”
Eun Hae-sol nodded with a meaningful look in his eyes.
Click—
The moment I opened the door, a plain room interior came into view.
It was a single room, narrower than the one I’d been given.
“Wow, I really scored a nice room.”
After rummaging through it for a few minutes, I found nothing.
“Whew…”
The instant I stepped out with a sigh,
“Aaaah!”
A scream echoed from the first floor.
‘That voice—Baek Si-woo?’
Just then, Eun Hae-sol emerged from his room, and our eyes met.
“You heard that too, hyung?”
I nodded silently.
“That was Si-woo hyung, right?”
No way he got caught and out already.
Since Baek Si-woo had been paired with the crystal ball, it wasn’t a huge loss.
“Let’s search faster.”
“Be careful.”
“Yeah, you too.”
We exchanged glances and moved to the next room.
“Ugh.”
The door swung open to reveal a room drenched in red blood. Walls, floor—everything was a mess.
‘Only this room’s like this.’
My grip tightened on the doorknob. It creeped me out just to step in, but with all this setup, there had to be something, so I forced myself forward.
“Ugh…”
I stopped in front of the bed.
A mannequin lay on the blood-soaked bed, blood dripping from underneath.
Facedown, so no face visible.
“I hate this crap.”
Muttering, I reached for the sticky, blood-matted hair and slowly lifted it to check for a talisman inside.
‘Nothing.’
Maybe inside the mannequin? Cautiously, I grabbed its arm and turned the body.
Whoosh—
The mannequin toppled sideways.
Now I could see its face: creepy red marker scribbles instead of eyes, nose, mouth.
My head turned away instinctively.
‘Damn…’
It was the moment I regretted mocking horror movie protagonists back in the day, thinking, ‘What’s scary about that?’
‘Nothing on the mannequin.’
Maybe under the bed.
“Let’s check.”
Kneeling, cheek to the floor, I peered underneath.
Dismembered mannequin limbs dangled from under the bed.
The sight hit me like a jump scare—my heart nearly stopped.
“What the hell.”
Muttering, I stood up.
I’d figured it was just cute hidden-camera stuff, but they’d gone all-out on this horror special.
Suddenly, my back felt ice-cold.
‘Ghosts don’t exist in this world.’
This was just production crew props to scare us.
Steeling myself with a deep breath, I finished searching the room.
But…
‘Nothing.’
Drawers, closet, everything—searched high and low, zero finds.
With all this effort put into the setup, there should’ve been something.
‘Just for atmosphere?’
Tilting my head, my eyes caught a framed picture on the wall.
A woman in medieval-style dress smiled from within.
Not original to the lodge—probably a prop. But they wouldn’t just place it randomly…
Drawn like a moth to flame, I stepped closer.
“No way it’s here?”
I yanked the frame off the wall. There—a talisman stuck to it.
Identical to the one the crew showed before the game.
“Found it.”
Reaching joyfully for it, a faint ghostly whistle sounded.
My spine turned to ice.
‘It’s coming.’
I snatched the talisman and quickly assessed.
‘Too late to run—gotta hide. But where?’
Only options: rickety closet or under the bed.
Which was safer?
Scanning frantically, I headed for the closet.
Under the bed was crammed with mannequins—tight space, and any noise would give me away.
I crammed into the closet, curled up, and shut the door fast.
The ghost’s footsteps grew clearer outside.
Creak—
‘What was that?’
Holding my breath, I tried piecing it together from sounds alone.
Thud—
Oh no.
Were they opening the door all the way?
‘No. Skipping some rooms.’
Might pass my room without checking.
‘Please don’t come.’
Eyes shut, praying desperately—then the footsteps stopped.
‘Right outside my door? Nah, imagination.’
But shattering my hopes, my door creaked open.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
‘Can’t get caught here.’
The game’s big hook was whether we’d eat lunch successfully…
Losing the main—prime pork belly—first?
Viewers’ anticipation and tension would fizzle.
‘Not letting that happen.’
Peeking through the closet door crack, I saw the ghost wandering, whistling.
It bent to check under the bed.
‘Shit. Done for.’
If they’re that thorough under the bed, closet’s next.
Door opens, I’m busted—bye-bye meat and variety show fun.
Desperate for a plan, I looked up.
‘Outta here.’
While it checked under the bed, dash for the door.
‘Can I?’
Deep breath, stood, eased the door open silently.
Ghost still rummaging mannequin parts under the bed.
Fully out—ghost finished, hand on floor to rise.
‘Screw it.’
Sprinted straight out the door.
Thud-thud—
Glancing back, ghost chased, hair whipping, eerie laugh echoing.
“Kee-hee-hee-hee!”
Makeup so convincing, I forgot it was fake.
“Huff, pant…”
Raced downstairs.
Head up—ghost hadn’t reached stairs yet. Ducked behind living room curtains.
‘Won’t find me here.’
Soon, whistling from downstairs.
‘Please pass by…’
How much time passed? Whistling stopped abruptly.
Slowly peeked out.
‘Gone?’
Rising, tension easing—curtains parted.
Nearly screamed.
“What’re you doing?”
It was Cha Jae-hyun.
Calming my pounding heart, I swept back my hair.
Couldn’t help but laugh.
“Hiding here?”
“Ghost was chasing me. Did you find any talismans?”
Cha Jae-hyun silently pointed. On the side table—two talismans.
“Two so far.”
“Wow, two?”
“Yu-bin and I. Nothing on the second floor?”
“Nope.”
Cha Jae-hyun let out a small disappointed breath.
“Hyung, hold on.”
Showing him the one from my pocket.
“Ta-da.”
“What? You found one?”
“Yeah. Second-floor room.”
“Always messing around.”
His expression finally relaxed.
“I’ll put it here.”
Three talismans so far.
Just two more to go.
“Who’s out?”
“Si-woo and Yu-bin.”
“Those two are like twins.”
“Yeah. Inseparable.”
So left: prime pork belly, soybean paste stew, wrap veggies.
Main dish survived—thank goodness. That alone makes a hearty lunch.
Variety aside, I was starving.
“Shall we hunt the rest?”
“Yeah. Together.”
“First floor’s done. Second floor.”
Walking up stairs side by side, chatting.
“How was the first floor? Scary or gross stuff?”
“The rooms I checked were normal. Not sure.”
Makes sense.
Cha Jae-hyun would’ve been pale as a ghost otherwise, but he looked fine—odd.
So he’d only hit normal rooms…
“Jae-hyun hyung.”
“Yeah?”
“Wanna stay on the first floor? No pranks here.”
He cleared his throat fake-cough, slapped my back.
“I’m fine. What do you take me for?”
What indeed.
‘Scaredy-cat.’
Couldn’t say it, so I just grinned.
Stepping onto the final stair, we reached the second floor. Exchanged silent looks, then advanced.
“Where’s Eun Hae-sol?”
“No idea.”
Come to think of it, he was gone.
Did the ghost get him?
“This room first?”
Few survivors left—time critical.
Opened a random door. The scene before us…
“Ah?”
A room packed with grotesque dolls.